JEDDAH — Jeddah Mayoralty resumed vehicular traffic in two directions along Hira Street in the area between the intersection of Madinah Road and Prince Sultan Street up to the History Square after a hiatus of 15 years. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Muhammad Al-Baqmi, spokesman of the mayoralty, said that the vehicular movement along the street has resumed in both directions as it was before 2005. During the year 2005, the Mayoralty turned the street into a single direction toward the west in a move aimed at providing relief to shops located on both sides of the road. However, in 2009, the mayoralty began special designs for the doubling of the street in the area between Madinah Road and Prince Sultan Street to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic, especially at the intersections of Hira with Madinah Road and Prince Sultan Street. It is noteworthy that the decision to allow traffic in both directions of the street was made after taking into account the fact that this is the only street linking Madinah Road with Prince Sultan Street. The decision was taken after extensive traffic studies carried out by the consultants at the mayoralty in cooperation with Jeddah Traffic Department to ensure the comfort and safety of both pedestrians and motorists.